Daily Life of an Ancient Couple’s Struggle 26

Chapter 26: Rendering Lard from Pork Fat
Ever since Kong Shi settled down at the Zhao household, Yuan Yao’s heart gradually found peace. After all, Kong Shi was an outsider; why should Yuan Yao waste her time and energy on someone like her? Moreover, Yuan Yao firmly believed that given Kong Shi’s character, she would inevitably stumble into trouble without any intervention needed on Yuan Yao’s part.
Having figured this out, Yuan Yao turned her thoughts back to making money.
She took very seriously the news Jiang Song’an mentioned before he left; if it were true, she didn’t have much time left. Although the selection of yamen runners by the local government followed formal and open procedures, unlike the imperial examinations, this process was rife with corruption, making bribery inevitable. She was certainly not the only one who realized this, so early preparation was essential.
The fermented bean curd business was currently doing reasonably well, but she knew there was no secret technique involved. Since she prepared it openly in the marketplace, someone ambitious had likely already learned the method. Within half a month—no, perhaps even in a few days—a second fermented bean curd stall would appear in the market. Yuan Yao had anticipated this all along.
She needed to continue developing other products to sell. After much consideration, she felt it best to start with what she already had. Take these jars, for instance; they were originally used for pickling vegetables. Why hadn’t Sister Hongmei managed to build a business around them?
Yuan Yao also had the recipe for pickled vegetables; once she finished with the next batch, she’d make time to ask Sister Hongmei. Collaborating between the two households seemed like a fine idea indeed.
“Eldest Sister! Eldest Sister!” As Yuan Yao was pondering in the kitchen, the voices of Yuan Shuang and Yuan Qi reached her. Wiping her hands, she stepped outside. “What’s the matter?”
“They’ve sprouted! They’ve sprouted!” Yuan Shuang exclaimed excitedly, pointing toward the small vegetable patch. Indeed, the seedlings sown earlier had all begun to sprout. Seeing this, Yuan Yao felt equally delighted. “Wonderful! Before long, we’ll be eating vegetables grown right here in our own garden.”
These were spring vegetables; come summer, she would plant summer gourds and melons. Truly, a vegetable garden was a precious treasure.
Still, the best asset is farmland. Thinking of this, Yuan Yao pressed her lips together slightly. She still needed to devise a way to reclaim Jiang Song’an and Xiaonian’s household registration documents; then, she could figure out how to secure a few more mu of land. By autumn or next year, they would be able to eat grain from their own fields.
However, there was another issue: merely watering and exposing the vegetable plot to sunlight wouldn’t suffice for good growth. It would be even better if they could compost some fertilizer.
Yuan Yao planned to gather some leaf mold for composting, along with animal droppings from the chicken and duck coops. Noticing Yuan Yao repeatedly glancing toward the coops, Jiang Nian guessed her intention and eagerly stepped forward, saying, “Sister-in-law, let me do it!”
Yuan Yao smiled. “You’re still young; don’t worry about such things. For now, we won’t make compost. But if you’re willing, bring back some leaf mold next time you go out.”
This was even simpler. Jiang Nian immediately agreed. Yuan Yao did not refuse; instead, she praised him with a smile. Hearing his sister-in-law’s compliments, Jiang Nian’s cheeks flushed with excitement.
After a whole day of work, tomorrow would be market day again.
As night fell, the children had already gone to rest.
Jiang Song’an was not there, and Yuan Yao, lying alone in the empty bed, suddenly felt a pang of loneliness…
Truly mad, she helplessly shook her head. Across two lifetimes as husband and wife, the days she had shared a bed with Jiang Song’an could be counted on one hand; what on earth was wrong with her…
When she first returned to this life, she had merely intended to partner with Jiang Song’an and live well, unwilling to remain a widow again. Yet after spending these days together, she had indeed come to see many virtues in that man. Even if she had not been reborn after marrying him but before, and were given the chance to marry him once more… it did not seem impossible.
She reached out to touch the empty space beside her, her cheeks flushed crimson.
After a long while, she turned over, forcing all these chaotic thoughts down.
What Yuan Yao did not know was that dozens of li away in Qingshan County, someone felt just as she did.
Yuan Yao soon fell asleep, yet Jiang Song’an tossed and turned on that small bed.
She had been here once; the entire place was filled with her scent.
Unable to sleep in the latter half of the night, Jiang Song’an simply gave up on trying. He went out to the courtyard and practiced a set of martial arts forms. In his teens, he had met a martial artist on the mountain—likely a former soldier—and in exchange for a wild pheasant, learned some techniques from him. Over all these years, he had never let those skills lapse.
After finishing his boxing routine, Jiang Song’an was fully awake. He glanced at the sky and went to wash up, remembering the hopes his beloved wife held for him.
Moving to the county town would mean no longer having to endure separation as husband and wife…
This was a matter that absolutely needed to be prioritized without delay.
–
The next day, with Shenmu Town holding its market fair, Yuan Yao prepared to set up her stall.
Li Yingying arrived early in the morning, smiling as she entered: “Sister-in-law! I’ll go with you! And I’ve brought along a distant cousin of mine!”
Yuan Yao knew that Jiang Song’an must have given prior instructions; fearing that Kong Shi might cause trouble when she went out to set up her stall, Li Yingying had brought her cousin along for protection.
“Rest assured, Sister-in-law,” Li Yingying added, “my cousin also does business in town—he cleans fish. He’s quite fierce-looking, doesn’t talk much, but is honest and reliable. He lives right next door to us and won’t disturb you at all.”
Touched by their kindness, Yuan Yao felt nothing but gratitude and promptly thanked them. With Li Yingying’s help, the whole family set out to open their stall.
Aunt Dou also stepped out, and the three of them chatted and laughed together. Only today did Jiang Nian realize that her sister-in-law was still earning money by running a street stall; her gaze toward Yuan Yao instantly filled with even greater admiration.
With Li Yingying’s help, the stall was set up even faster. Jiang Nian, being quick-witted, eagerly took on whatever tasks she could find, leaving Yuan Qi and Yuan Li with little to do. Yuan Yao smiled and said, “That’s enough, Nian Nian; you should rest now.”
Jiang Nian shook her head. “No, I want to help Sister-in-law so that my younger sisters can rest.”
Yuan Qi and Yuan Li exchanged a glance and stuck out their tongues, while Yuan Yao shook her head with a smile.
However, when it actually came time to sell the fermented bean curd, only Yuan Yao could take charge. Having already set up her stall several times, she was extremely skilled at it. Moreover, having gained a bit of reputation in the marketplace, people would gather around as soon as she arrived, naturally keeping her constantly busy.
Soon, two or three jars of fermented bean curd were sold out.
Yuan Yao was just about to take a rest when, unexpectedly, the very first female customer she’d ever had arrived. This woman had visited Yuan Yao’s stall every time it was set up, always asking for some extra items thrown in. Yuan Yao had long since learned her name: Lady Cui, from the far eastern end of town. Although Lady Cui loved to haggle for little perks, she was remarkably generous when it came to paying, and her amusing way of speaking had gradually made Yuan Yao quite familiar with her.
“Finished eating what you bought last time?” Yuan Yao, having prepared only fermented bean curd today, assumed the woman had come to buy more.
To her surprise, Lady Cui merely blinked, smiled, then leaned in mysteriously and whispered, “Didn’t you hear? Someone has opened a stall just like yours on the eastern street, selling fermented bean curd too!”
Upon hearing this, both Li Yingying and Aunt Dou standing nearby froze in astonishment.
Yuan Yao was also somewhat surprised, but relieved: “So soon? I thought it would take until the next episode.”
Cui Shi looked rather astonished: “You guessed it? Did you know all along that someone would copy you?”
Yuan Yao smiled: “Everyone has watched how I make this fermented bean curd; it’s no secret recipe. If I can do it, naturally others can too.”
Cui Shi replied: “That may be true… but I also know how to make fermented bean curd. Don’t you remember why I was so shocked the first time? It was because I had eaten it in the prefectural city, tried making it at home myself, yet could never replicate that same taste. Knowing how to make it and being able to make it well are two entirely different things.”
Yuan Yao: “I know you’re willing to spend on food and drink, but not everyone feels the same.”
This remark also indirectly praised Cui Shi for being thrifty and practical, which she appreciated. She smiled and said, “You truly don’t mind? I’ve already asked around—she’s selling it two wen cheaper than you, clearly trying to steal your business on purpose.”
“Let her try stealing it then. Anyway, I won’t be selling fermented bean curd for much longer.”
After Yuan Yao said this, everyone fell silent in surprise. Even Aunt Dou couldn’t help but ask, “You’re not planning to sell fermented bean curd anymore?”
Yuan Yao smiled and said, “When I first set up my stall, wasn’t I selling mung bean cakes and kidney bean cakes? What I sell depends on the season and what ingredients I have on hand; I certainly won’t be making fermented bean curd for a lifetime.”
Cui Shi exclaimed in surprise, “Then what else are you planning to sell?”
“I haven’t decided yet; we’ll figure that out later. But as for the fermented bean curd, there probably won’t be much left to sell after these next two batches.”
Hearing this, Cui Shi lost her composure: “Then I’ll take two more jars now, so we don’t run out at home when it’s gone.”
Yuan Yao smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll make it for you.”
After setting up the stall for just one hour today, all twenty jars of fermented bean curd were sold out. Li Yingying remarked, “Although someone tried to snatch away your business, sister-in-law, it doesn’t seem to have affected you much. Are you really not going to sell anymore?”
Blinking her eyes, Yuan Yao replied, “When I say I won’t sell, it’s to leave my customers in suspense. Later, I’ll decide based on the situation; for instance, selling once a month could keep everyone eagerly anticipating. However, I do need to plan on offering other items as well. Continuously selling the same product will inevitably lead to declining business. Didn’t you see? There’s only one competitor now, but I can assure you, more will surely follow.”
Li Yingying nodded with a half-understanding expression, while Aunt Dou beside her listened with great interest. Glancing at her own tofu stall, she seemed to have figured something out as well…
That was enough business for today; it was time to pack up. Yuan Yao had earned a full five qian, yet she still felt unsatisfied. When would she ever make a whole tael in a single day? After closing her stall, she began planning to gather some goods from the street vendors.
Li Yingying also enjoyed strolling through the markets and knew exactly which parts of Shenmu Town offered good wares and which did not. With considerable enthusiasm, she began introducing various spots to Yuan Yao. Meanwhile, the children were being looked after by Yuan Shuang. In truth, Jiang Nian was no longer so young and could already help Yuan Shuang with many tasks.
The most troublesome one was Yuan Li. One moment she wanted to look here, the next she wished to peek there. Yuan Shuang pressed her lips together and said, “Xiao Li, stay close to us. Don’t run off wildly.”
Yuan Li: “You go ahead; I will definitely catch up with you!”
Before Yuan Shuang could speak, Jiang Nian said first, “Fourth Sister, there are many carriages and people here. Be careful not to get hit by a person or a carriage later; it hurts very much.”
Upon hearing these words, Yuan Li reined in her thoughts and obediently followed along. Yuan Shuang glanced at Jiang Nian and suddenly felt how wonderful it was to have a younger brother close to her own age; she could now relax considerably.
Thus, as they walked, Yuan Shuang kept talking with Jiang Nian. Her eldest sister had instructed her about Young Master Nian’s past, so she avoided touching on old wounds, instead simply asking whether he was accustomed to the food and lodging here.
Jiang Nian had never had many friends growing up. Since arriving here, every day had been pleasant, and now he even had an elder sister around his own age showing such warm concern. Naturally, his heart was filled with gratitude and joy. He insisted that everything was perfect. Yuan Shuang smiled and said, “That’s good!” Then she reached out and patted Jiang Nian’s head, causing his face to flush instantly.
After wandering through more than half of the marketplace, Li Yingying had purchased several items, and Yuan Yao did likewise. Her greatest find was over ten jin of adzuki beans; these must have been treasured by the old farmer, for their quality was exceptional. Recently, prices for grains like these remained reasonable, but once Mangzhong arrived, before the new harvest matured and while the old stock ran low, prices would surely rise. Indeed, Yuan Yao had recently been planning to stockpile a little.
They couldn’t carry the dozen or so jin of grain themselves, so they simply paid a deposit and asked the old farmer to deliver it to the Jiang household after he finished at the market.
As a result, Yuan Yao was left empty-handed and still planned to buy some fresh pork.
The pork Jiang Song’an brought back for the New Year had all been cured into preserved meat. Since fresh meat doesn’t keep well, everyone would cut off only as much as they needed each time. It had been nearly half a month since anyone had bought fresh meat. Yuan Yao wanted to buy a strip to render into lard.
There was only one butcher shop in town, and each market day brought just a single pig. Yuan Yao had only just decided to buy meat on her way over, unsure whether any good cuts would remain by the time she arrived. Yet this butcher clearly knew Jiang Song’an—and evidently recognized her as well. Smiling, he said, “Others might find nothing left, but for Mistress Jiang, there’s always something. Here’s a hind leg and a slab of pork belly. Care to take a look?”
Yuan Yao smiled, examined it carefully, and said, “I’ll take the pork belly. I need it fatty so I can render lard when I get home.”
“Done!”
Li Yingying quickly added, “Then let me share in my sister-in-law’s good fortune as well; I’ll take this hind leg!”
“No problem!”
Thus, the two of them, each carrying a piece of freshly cut meat, happily prepared to head home.
But just as they stepped out of the butcher shop, Yuan Yao, sharp-eyed, quickly darted aside and whispered in a low voice, “It’s Kong Shi.”
Li Yingying hastily concealed the meat as well. Fortunately, the butcher shop owner always wrapped the meat in oil paper, making it impossible to tell what was inside. Calmly, Yuan Shi tucked it to the very bottom of her basket, covering it with ordinary items.
Li Yingying remarked, “This Kong Shi has only just settled down yet is already out shopping; clearly, she still has quite a bit of money.”
Yuan Yao made no comment; she simply did not believe that the Kong family had no money. Even while fleeing, they must have packed their belongings beforehand. That woman Kong was shrewd to the extreme and had undoubtedly hidden everything away most securely.
Kong did not see Yuan Yao. Having wandered through the market enough for the day, Yuan Yao took the children home.
Not long after, Kong also returned.
It was just about lunchtime; the moment she stepped into the Zhao family’s courtyard, the aroma of meat wafting from the kitchen reached her.
That was meat, after all.
Instantly, Kong Shi’s stomach, which had gone months without tasting anything fatty, began to clamor. In truth, much as Yuan Yao had guessed, their journey had differed from that of other refugees; they still possessed some belongings, so Kong Shi hadn’t truly suffered from hunger.
But could eating dry rations ever compare to having meat?
Even though Kong had bought a few things at the market today, she still couldn’t bring herself to buy even a small piece of meat. Now, with the aroma of pork wafting so close by, it was truly more than she could bear.
If even she couldn’t bear it, how could the two children at home? Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui had missed out on Yuan Yao’s big steamed buns yesterday; now, catching the scent of pork, their tantrums erupted instantly!
She didn’t care about anything anymore; she was determined to have meat today!
“Mother, Mother! You said we’d have meat once we settled here! I want meat! I want meat!”
How could Lady Kong not crave meat? Yet she simply couldn’t bear to spend the money. Never mind that their house and fields were not yet secured; even if they were living independently, she still wouldn’t have allowed herself to buy meat even once a month.
But her two sons were making such a fuss; indeed, it had been several months since they last ate any. Lady Kong scolded, “Enough! Tomorrow then! Even if I were to go buy some now, the butcher shop would surely be closed!”
“Today! I want to eat it today! Isn’t there already something ready in the kitchen?”
Kong Shi: “…”
She glanced toward Widow Zhao’s side; that woman was shrewd too. Previously, she had calculated every grain of rice and measure of flour meticulously—how could she possibly think of them now when it came to eating meat?
But Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui were making such a racket that it gave her a headache. Helpless, Kong Shi snapped angrily, “Fine! You two gluttonous good-for-nothings!”
She got up and went to the kitchen. This Widow Zhao looked no older than her early twenties! Kong Shi refused to believe she couldn’t handle her; back in the village, there were plenty of village women she had kept firmly in line. Could it be that here in Shenmu Town, she would repeatedly meet with setbacks?!
Kong Shi was very confident.
However, she truly failed to grasp the current situation. Shenmu Town was nothing like some ordinary village; its women were not simple village folk either. Moreover, her luck was poor, as the two women she had provoked were both formidable indeed.
Although Yuan Yao was still young, she knew how to conduct business and had seen the world in Chang’an City; surely she could manage a mere Kong Shi. As for Widow Zhao, she was famously sharp-tongued and shrewd throughout Shenmu Town. Furthermore, she held conventional rules in contempt and feared nothing.
The consequences of Kong Shi’s trip were obvious even to a fool.
After listening to Zhao Hong spout a bunch of nonsense, only to casually remark that food was available but required payment, Kong Shi flew into a rage once again!
When Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui saw their mother return empty-handed, their disappointment and clamor so infuriated Kong Shi that she slammed the door shut and stormed out in a huff!
She wouldn’t stand for such insolence! If those two little rascals had the guts, let them go beg themselves!
Meanwhile, Yuan Yao was also rendering lard.
Rendering lard was the three sisters’ favorite activity, because whenever there was lard, there would surely be cracklings.
It was something even more delicious than eating meat directly. The slices of pork sizzled in the pot, shrinking into dry, crispy cracklings, leaving behind a layer of clear oil that turned milky white once cooled. Yuan Yao rendered lard about once every three months, and the leftover cracklings became the children’s favorite treat.
With their crispy texture and rich, savory aroma, each bite crunched delightfully, sending waves of pure happiness straight to the top of one’s head. Thus, upon hearing that lard was being made today, the three sisters had long been waiting eagerly at the kitchen door.
As they waited, they couldn’t help but swallow repeatedly, their mouths watering uncontrollably.
Jiang Nian was equally tempted. He had tasted pork cracklings before while living with Lady Kong, though perhaps only once a year. It wasn’t that Lady Kong never rendered lard; rather, many times she did so secretly and gave the cracklings to her nephew instead. When Jiang Nian was younger, he would eagerly try to sneak a taste, but as he grew older and more sensible, no matter how much he craved them, he never again dared to approach.
Yuan Yao’s pork cracklings were fresh out of the wok, yet the first person she called was Jiang Nian: “Nian Nian, come over and have a taste.”
Overwhelmed by the unexpected favor, Jiang Nian approached. The bowl held golden, steaming pork cracklings still rising with heat. Yuan Yao picked one up for him: “Careful, it’s hot.”
Jiang Nian swallowed hard, his mouth watering uncontrollably, but he glanced back at the three sisters: “Shouldn’t Second Sister or the younger ones have some first…?”
Yuan Li exclaimed loudly: “Just eat yours! Everyone in our family will get some! Hurry up and eat; only then will it be our turn!”
Yuan Li spoke in a hurry, but her words were indeed true. Yuan霜 also smiled and said, “Yes, hurry up and eat!”
Only then did Jiang Nian stop hesitating, take it, and begin to eat.
The moment the crispy pork fat entered his mouth, the child’s eyes lit up! So fragrant (╯▽╰ )~
Crispy pork fat truly is the most delicious thing in the entire world. Seeing him like this, Yuan Yao couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, this whole bowl belongs to all of you; share it among yourselves! But it’s still hot, so don’t eat too much!”
Yuan Shuang smiled and said, “Thank you, eldest sister! I know—after it cools down, sprinkling some salt and mixing it in makes it taste the best!”
Jiang Nian couldn’t even close his mouth in astonishment: “Are all these really for us?”
Yuan Li once again couldn’t bear to watch: “Yes, yes, just eat with peace of mind! Our family doesn’t lack this little bit!”
Yuan Shuang poked her younger sister’s head. “Is that how you speak to your older brother?”
Yuan Li stuck out her tongue and ran off.
Shenmu Town was never large, and its houses were low; even though Yuan Yao had already closed the door, the rich aroma still drifted outside. The Jiang brothers, Fu and Gui, driven mad by the scent of meat at the Zhao household, followed their noses straight to her doorstep.
At that moment, Lady Kong had fainted from anger and, in a fit of rage, had rushed to the village head’s house to inquire about the land matter. Thus, only the two brothers had come. Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui hesitated for a long while before Yuan Yao’s door. “You go,” one urged the other.
“Go ahead.”
The two hesitated for a long while, never daring to knock on the door. It was only when Yuan Shuang heard voices outside that she opened the main gate; the moment she did, she froze in place.
Unsure how to deal with these so-called younger cousins, she simply ran back to fetch her eldest sister. Upon hearing the news, Yuan Yao needed no further explanation; after a moment’s thought, she stepped outside.
Seeing Yuan Yao, Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui stammered out a greeting: “Second Sister-in-law.”
Yuan Yao glanced behind them; Kong Shi had not come.
Jiang Nian also walked over, and upon seeing them, unconsciously furrowed his brows: “What are you two doing here?”
Don’t be fooled by little Jiang Nian’s well-behaved demeanor at home; he was already fiercely protective of his own. As he spoke, he stepped in front of the doorway, clearly unwilling to let the two brothers inside.
Seeing this fierce expression on him, Yuan Yao caught a glimpse of Jiang Song’an in his features and couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile. After all, she was an adult and wouldn’t hold a grudge against such a small child, so she repeated the question gently: “What are you two doing here?”
At that moment, Jiang Nian was still holding the bowl of pork cracklings in his hands. The moment Jiang Fu saw it, his eyes lit up: “We want to eat pork cracklings!”
Jiang Nian’s face darkened at once: “On what grounds?! No way!”
Jiang Fu: “Jiang Nian, you’re truly heartless! Didn’t my mother feed you when you lived in our house before?”
Jiang Nian laughed angrily: “She did feed me—once a year, just one piece. If you want some too, fine. Starting today until this time next year, I’ll definitely give you one piece.”
“You!”
Yuan Shuang and Yuan Yao both widened their eyes, never expecting their Jiang Nian to be so formidable. Jiang Fu was probably a year and a half younger than Jiang Nian, but Jiang Gui was much younger still; at only seven years old, he too was now gazing longingly at the bowl in Jiang Nian’s hands. Seeing her little brother, Jiang Nian did feel a twinge of reluctance, yet she was no pushover. Stubbornly blocking the doorway, she refused to yield. This obstinate demeanor, for some reason, bore an uncanny resemblance to Jiang Song’an.
In the end, it was Yuan Yao who stepped in to mediate. “Alright, alright.”
It was merely a piece of pork crackling; what sense was there in bickering with children? Nevertheless… Yuan Yao said, “If you wish to eat, you may, but remember, nothing in this world comes without dignity. Do you understand?”
“What… what does ‘food offered with contempt’ mean?”
Yuan Yao: “…”
“My eldest sister means there’s no such thing as a free lunch!” Yuan Qi shouted.
Jiang Nian also suddenly realized: “Right! No free lunch! If you want it, you have to work for our family!”
Yuan Yao widened her eyes; that wasn’t what she had meant at all…
Jiang Fu: “…What kind of work?”
Jiang Nian’s little mind was racing. He immediately pointed to the Jiang family’s small vegetable plot and declared, “You clean out our chicken and duck coops, then use the waste to fertilize our vegetable garden! Once it’s done, I’ll give you a plot of your own!”
After Jiang Nian finished speaking, almost everyone paused in surprise. Before Yuan Yao could even say a word, Jiang Fu immediately agreed!
It’s just making compost; what’s so difficult about that? We used to do it all the time back home!
“Just this vegetable plot?” Jiang Fu asked, pointing to the Jiang family’s small garden. Upon receiving Jiang Nian’s affirmative answer, he rushed over at once, as if afraid Jiang Nian might change his mind. Meanwhile, Jiang Nian turned to look at Yuan Yao, suddenly feeling somewhat uneasy: “Sister-in-law… is this alright?”
Yuan Yao really wanted to laugh but had to forcibly hold it back: “These pork cracklings are yours now; you decide!”
Hearing this, Jiang Nian laughed, and the three sisters joined in: “Then let’s do it!”
Yuan Yao returned to the kitchen, suppressing her laughter. Clearly, she hadn’t expected Jiang Nian to come up with such an idea. After all, it was a matter among the children, so she decided not to interfere.
Shaking her head with a smile, she resumed preparing dinner.
Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui truly huffed and puffed as they got to work. Jiang Nian didn’t idle either; seeing that Jiang Gui was still young, he personally stepped in to help. As for the three sisters, they were indeed left with nothing to do but watch from the side, though after a while, they stopped watching altogether.
The two brothers had never been this diligent when they were at home. They ran back and forth between the chicken and duck pens, collecting all the animal droppings accumulated over several days and moving them to the vegetable plot. Working for about an hour starting around 1 PM, the three brothers finished composting fertilizer for the Jiang family’s small garden.
By now, Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui were ravenous, their stomachs growling loudly. In fact, neither had eaten lunch; Kong Shi, furious at the time, had stormed out immediately, leaving the two brothers clearly starving.
After finishing the work, Jiang Fu reached out his hand to Jiang Nian. “It’s done! Give it to me.”
Jiang Nian glanced down at his hand, his brow furrowed deeper than the gullies in the loess hills: “Could you go wash up first?”
Jiang Fu pursed his lips, clearly finding it a bit troublesome.
At that moment, Yuan Yao emerged from the kitchen and asked with a smile, “Finished?”
“Finished, sister-in-law!” Jiang Nian immediately replied.
“Then go wash your hands and eat. I’ve steamed some buns; come join me.”
After Yuan Yao spoke, the three brothers were stunned. Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui saw once again the white flour buns they had longed for—but this time, they weren’t just plain mantou; they were big, stuffed buns!!
Seeing them frozen in place, Yuan Yao smiled and urged, “Aren’t you going to eat?”
She was certainly not the heartless Lady Kong. One thing at a time: children barely older than Yuan Li had worked hard alongside her for an entire hour, and she would never be so stingy as to withhold even a few buns from them.
“If you want to eat, wash your hands properly, and scrub your arms and feet too!”
After all, having done such dirty work, Yuan Yao couldn’t stand it either without a thorough washing.
With big steamed buns and pork cracklings available, Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui breathed rapidly, no longer resisting or delaying; they even rushed toward the edge of the water pool. Yuan Yao turned to Jiang Nian: “You go too.”
Jiang Nian snapped back to reality and quickly nodded: “I’m going, I’m going! I’ll definitely wash properly!”
The three little rascals washed themselves thoroughly by the water’s edge; not just their hands and feet, but even their faces were scrubbed clean. By the time they appeared before Yuan Yao, they looked entirely refreshed. Holding a large basin of vegetable buns, Yuan Yao smiled and said, “Eat up!”
Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui practically pounced forward!
Yuan Yao turned to the three sisters: “Are you still hungry?”
All three shook their heads in unison: “We’re full from lunch! We’ll eat again tonight!”
“That works too.”
Thus, the large platter of steamed buns was nearly divided among the three brothers. Yuan Yao made no secret of it either: each of them received one meat-filled bun. There were no extras left; the rest were all filled with cabbage and vermicelli. Yet even this was enough to bring Jiang Fu and Jiang Nian to tears. Meat buns! How long had it been since they last tasted one?
Don’t talk about prospects or lack thereof; having food to eat is the best thing.” After devouring two large steamed buns, Jiang Fu immediately asked, “Second Sister-in-law, do you have any more work that needs doing?
Yuan Yao was stunned, but Jiang Nian’s face darkened. “What do you mean? Still being insatiable? Here’s some pork cracklings! Don’t come back tomorrow!”
Jiang Fu chuckled, tossed the pork cracklings straight into his mouth, and crunched away noisily, looking utterly blissful. In contrast, Jiang Gui seemed to treat the treat as something precious; after taking a lick, he slowly savored it with deliberate relish. The way both of them ate was truly hard to watch.
Seeing that they had eaten their fill, Jiang Nian began to usher them out. Although Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui were reluctant to leave, they dared not linger any longer; if their mother found out, they would surely receive a severe beating. Thus, after licking their lips one last time, they departed with many backward glances.
Only after Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui had left did Jiang Nian approach Yuan Yao. Looking at her with concern and self-reproach, he asked, “Sister-in-law, will you be angry that I acted on my own initiative?”
He greatly feared that Yuan Yao would blame him for letting Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui into the house, since they had not only received the cracklings but also eaten the family’s steamed buns.
Yet Yuan Yao not only held no grievance against him but praised him instead: “Nian Nian did very well. We should not indulge in misplaced kindness, but if something benefits us, we must learn to make use of people. And having employed them, it is only right to give them compensation; this is the way of conducting oneself in the world.”
Jiang Nian never expected that instead of being scolded, he would receive praise. After a moment of stunned surprise, a brilliant smile suddenly bloomed on his face: “I understand now, Sister-in-law!”
–
Kong Shi had gone to the village head’s house today, and without a doubt, she had not fared well there either.
Wu Shi appeared simple and honest, but with her husband having served as the village head for so many years, she had truly mastered the art of speaking pleasing words. She would never confront you directly, yet she left Kong Shi feeling utterly frustrated, as if punching cotton. Wu Shi kept circling around the same points without ever addressing the actual problem, until Kong Shi, exhausted from talking, returned home dispirited and dejected.
She had just stepped through the door when Jiang Dasheng followed right behind her.
Seeing her husband, Kong Shi seemed to find a new glimmer of hope and hurried forward to ask, “How did it go?”
Jiang Dasheng wore an expression of utter exhaustion. It turned out that Kong Shi’s plan for the day had been to send Jiang Dasheng into town to find Jiang Song’an! They had returned several days ago yet hadn’t managed more than a few words with Jiang Song’an; upon learning he had gone into town again, Kong Shi immediately dispatched Jiang Dasheng to wait for him like a farmer guarding a tree stump for a rabbit.
No matter what, Jiang Dasheng was Jiang Song’an’s own second uncle; she simply refused to believe that Jiang Song’an would not acknowledge them!
If he dares, she will make a scene right in front of the iron shop and pin the label of unfilial conduct on Jiang Song’an!
Jiang Dasheng was clearly exhausted; upon returning, he didn’t even bother to speak before gulping down two large cups of water. Kong Shi urged, “So, how did it go…?”
“I didn’t see him!” Jiang Dasheng snapped irritably after finishing his drink.
“I squatted at the entrance of the iron shop all day and didn’t see a soul!”
Kong Shi was stunned: “How is that possible? Could he really not have come out all day?”
Jiang Dasheng said, “Why are you asking me? How would I know? I’m exhausted. Is there any food?”
A look of frustration appeared on Kong Shi’s face: “I also went to the village head’s house today to inquire about our land and fields, so I haven’t cooked yet.”
Hearing this, Jiang Dasheng grew even more irritated: “I’ve been out all day and come back to not even a hot meal! What good are you!”
Kong Shi was taken aback, her voice rising in response: “Didn’t I already tell you I went to the village head’s house? I haven’t been idle either! Aren’t there still some dry biscuits left? Have those to tide you over; I’ll go prepare something now!”
Jiang Dasheng looked at the dry biscuits they had been eating for several months and truly lost his appetite. How he longed for just one hot meal…
After being scolded by Jiang Dasheng, Kong Shi also began to feel hungry. Earlier at noon, she had been too furious to eat, but now she finally remembered the matter of lunch.
“Aren’t you two hungry?” She suddenly cast a suspicious glance at Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui, who were sitting quietly. Normally, these two little terrors would have been making a scene long ago; they had already started causing trouble around noon, so why were they so quiet now?
Jiang Fu felt a chill run down his spine and nervously blurted out, “Hungry! Ate the flatbread!”
Jiang Gui, even younger than Jiang Fu, was far less skilled at lying; he stammered along, repeating, “Ate flatbread!”
Madam Kong hadn’t thought much of it at first, but the moment her youngest son spoke, her face immediately darkened. “Who do you think you’re fooling? Not a single pancake is missing!”
Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui fell silent.
The two brothers took off running, but how could they possibly outrun their mother? She caught them in an instant and scolded sharply, “You rascals! What did you eat?”
..
When the Jiang family began their evening meal in the courtyard, Kong Shi had just arrived outside the wall. She sniffed the air and immediately caught the scent of meat.
How wonderful…
This girl is really living well; even when her husband isn’t around, she still gets to eat meat. She’s truly benefiting from the Jiang family’s name.
Kong Shi originally intended to go straight inside, but then she reconsidered, recalling the lesson she learned earlier that day. Suddenly, she began to suspect that what Yuan Yao had said about her cousin visiting was a lie.
She simply didn’t want her to stay.
Thinking this over, Kong Shi decided to keep watch right in front of Yuan Yao’s house.
If that were truly the case, the couple might not have stayed overnight at Yuan Yao’s home; this was precisely what Kong Shi had been waiting for.
Indeed, today Li Yingying remained until dusk. At exactly you hour (5–7 PM), she prepared to leave.
As night was about to fall completely, Yuan Yao made no attempt to detain her further. She escorted her guest to the alley entrance. After crouching there for a while, Kong Shi finally spotted them. Overcome with excitement, she quietly began to follow.
Upon reaching the alley mouth, Yuan Yao stopped. After exchanging a few more words, she turned back homeward. Kong Shi immediately hid herself, only resuming her pursuit once Li Yingying had departed.
She needed to confirm whether this Li woman had returned home. If she had, it would prove that the Yuan girl was nothing but a liar! She would definitely settle accounts with her properly!
However, there were hardly any people in the alley at this moment. Kong Shi followed Li Yingying stealthily, and just as she took a few more steps forward, someone suddenly struck her from behind!
“Ah—”
Before Kong Shi could even cry out, she collapsed limply to the ground. Li Yingying turned around in shock: “Brother?!”
The other party glanced indifferently at Kong Shi lying on the ground and said to Li Yingying, “You were too careless.”
–
In the courtyard of the Jiang family.
Jiang Dasheng was utterly miserable; his wife had once again vanished to who-knows-where, and he still hadn’t managed to eat a single hot meal.
Meanwhile, the enticing aroma of meat drifted over from Widow Zhao’s house.
At noon, Widow Zhao had stewed pork ribs enough for several meals, and now their rich fragrance was so overpowering it nearly sent Jiang Dasheng into a daze.
Unable to control himself, Jiang Dasheng found his feet carrying him unconsciously to the kitchen door, where Widow Zhao was inside cooking noodles.
She wore a fitted long skirt; though the weather had not yet warmed, Widow Zhao had already shed her winter jacket. Her slender waist, easily encircled by one hand, and her snow-white bare arms gleamed conspicuously, instantly rooting Jiang Dasheng to the spot.
After Widow Zhao had put the noodles into the pot, she finally noticed the figure standing at the kitchen doorway. She arched an eyebrow, about to say something, but upon seeing Jiang Dasheng’s utterly discomposed expression—Widow Zhao, being most adept at understanding men—glanced downward and suddenly froze in surprise.
Jiang Dasheng looked down himself, and his old face instantly flushed crimson with embarrassment; clutching his crotch, he immediately fled. Widow Zhao stood stunned in the kitchen for a long while before bursting into laughter with a sudden “pfft.”
Yet as she continued laughing, a thought suddenly struck Widow Zhao. She glanced at the noodles boiling in the pot, hesitated briefly, then added a bit more. Once the noodles were cooked, she ladled out two bowls and, carrying them, swayed her hips as she headed toward the eastern room…
..
The person who knocked Kong Shi unconscious was Li Yingying’s cousin, Li Tan. After she fainted, Li Tan still carried her to the entrance of the Zhao family home. By then, night had completely fallen. After knocking on the door, he left, assuming someone would eventually let Kong Shi inside.
Little did he know that Jiang Fu and Jiang Gui in the small eastern room were already asleep, while in another room, Jiang Dasheng sat dazed before the smiling Widow Zhao. Whether it was the fragrance emanating from her body or the aroma of the pork rib noodles that addled his senses, he simply failed to hear the knocking at the door outside…
Kong Shi awoke the next day amidst the pointing fingers and murmurs of passersby. Upon waking, she realized she was lying at the main gate, with throbbing pain shooting through the back of her head…
“What are you looking at? Scram, all of you!”
Mrs. Kong snapped back to her senses, clutched her head as she stood up, unleashed a torrent of curses upon everyone present, and only then pushed open the door to go inside. Not long after, those who had been preparing to leave outside suddenly heard Mrs. Kong let out an earth-shattering scream from within the Zhao household—
“You heaven-sent killer, Jiang Dasheng!!! I’ll kill you!!!”